Attorney Mark Coburn Discusses Tougher Drunk Driving Threshold Proposed
For the past decade, the standard blood alcohol threshold has been 0.08, however, as recent reports suggest– the National Transportation Safety Board is pushing for a nationwide threshold of 0.05. In addition to this much stricter regulation regarding drunk drivers on the road, the board would like to see faster actions implanted to take away offenders’ licenses and driving right after they’ve been charged with a DUI.
Alcohol-related crashes kill over 10,000 people each year, which is why the NTSB believes a more restrictive law must be placed. Just this Tuesday, they recommended that all 50 states adopt a blood-alcohol content (BAC) cutoff of 0.05 compared to the 0.08 standard.
“Most Americans think that we’ve solved the problem of impaired driving, but in fact, it’s still a national epidemic,” NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said.
She went on to state that progress has been made over the years to reduce DUIs, including a variety of federal and state policies, tougher law enforcement, and more solid advocacy, however, she said too many people are still dying on the roads.
“In the last 30 years, more than 440,000 people have perished in this country due to alcohol-impaired driving. What will be our legacy 30 years from now?” Hersman asked. “If we don’t tackle alcohol-impaired driving now, when will we find the will to do so?”
Under current 0.08 law, an average 180-pound male will hit the threshold after about four drinks over an hour. That same person could reach the 0.05 threshold after just two to three drinks over the same period.
The NTSB also recommended that states expand laws allowing police to swiftly confiscate licenses from drivers who exceed the blood alcohol limits, and it is pushing for laws requiring all first-time offenders to have ignition locking devices that prevent cars from starting until breath samples are analyzed.
More on this news story soon, but in the meantime, if you have been charged with a DUI or Drunk Driving Charge in Las Vegas, and you require an exceptional Las Vegas DUI Attorney, call the Law Office of Mark Coburn today for a free consultation regarding the details of your case. (702) 384-1001.
Attorney Mark Coburn has helped thousands of clients over the last 17 years facing incriminating DUI charges in Las Vegas, Nevada.
